Combining vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors to prime, expand, and facilitate effective tumor immunotherapy

Most combination trials of vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are in early phases, with several now in phase III.

• Therapeutic cancer vaccines, such as sipuleucel-T and talimogene laherparepvec, have been approved for specific cancers.
• Combining vaccines with ICIs may improve response rates and the durability of responses in cancer treatment.
• Vaccines can potentially turn 'cold' tumors into 'hot' tumors, enhancing immune responses.
• Neoantigens, which are specific to tumor cells, may lead to strong antitumor immune responses.
• Techniques for identifying which neoepitopes to target based on tumor mutations are under development.
• Successful combination therapies must enhance immune system priming, response expansion, and function within the tumor microenvironment.

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